TAICHUNG, Taiwan — A physician in Taichung narrowly avoided losing NT$22 million to an elaborate investment scam orchestrated through a Facebook group, thanks to the timely intervention of his family and police.
According to the Chun She Police Station under the Taichung City Fourth Precinct, the incident began when the doctor joined an online investment group called “Endless Learning” after seeing what turned out to be a fraudulent advertisement on Facebook. The group promised connections to “big investors” and “daily trading profits,” persuading the doctor to initially transfer NT$3 million as a starting investment.
The scam deepened when the fraudsters claimed he had successfully subscribed to 74 new stocks and needed to provide an additional NT$22 million in cash or face penalties for default. Taking their word, the doctor withdrew the amount in cash and packed it into a suitcase for a face-to-face handover.
Despite repeated warnings from his family, the doctor was convinced of the legitimacy of the scheme and insisted on personally delivering the money. Alarmed by his behavior, his relatives contacted local authorities, who devised a plan to apprehend the perpetrators.
In typical fraud sting operations, police often instruct victims to use decoy money or empty boxes to avoid financial loss. However, the doctor’s refusal to cooperate with such measures forced law enforcement to use the actual cash as bait to catch the scammer.
Officers laid an ambush at the agreed meeting point. A 42-year-old woman, later identified only by her surname Jian, arrived and claimed to be the group’s financial consultant. However, she failed to present proper identification and lacked the knowledge expected of a legitimate investment professional.
Only after witnessing Jian’s arrest did the doctor come to terms with the fact that he had been deceived. Authorities recovered mobile phones, forged receipts, and other fraudulent materials from the suspect.
While the doctor had already lost NT$3 million, police were able to secure the remaining NT$22 million before it could be handed over. Jian has since been transferred to prosecutors on charges of fraud and money laundering.
Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution when engaging in online investment offers and to verify all claims with legitimate financial institutions. They also remind the public that high returns promised with minimal risk are often a red flag for scams.
